By Terrance Turner
The three former police officers who stood by and watched the murder of George Floyd appeared in court today. According to ABC News, “Kiernan Lane, Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao were all charged with second-degree aiding and abetting felony murder and second-degree aiding and abetting manslaughter in the death of the 46-year-old man.” Their bond has been set at $1 million. Chauvin’s bond has been set at $500,000. His charges were updated yesterday from third-degree to second-degree murder.
Chauvin held his knee on Floyd’s neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds. Lane, 37, allegedly held Floyd’s legs down. Kueng, 26, allegedly held Floyd’s back as Chauvin placed his knee, the criminal complaint said. Thao, 34, watched the entire incident with his hands in his pockets, according to the complaint. The former officers have not entered pleas. Their next court date is June 29.
Earl Gray, Lane’s attorney, said his client was a rookie officer on his fourth day on the force while Chauvin was a training officer. Kueng was also a rookie officer, according to Minneapolis police department records. Which means that Derek Chauvin was training officers on how to brutalize black people. The New York Times reported yesterday that Floyd had coronavirus, which means that Chauvin may have contracted it — and thus infected the very officers that he was attempting to train.
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